CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income	Retained Earnings	Total Albemarle Shareholders' Equity	Non-controlling Interests
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	$ 1,475,746	$ 916	$ 18,835	$ (164,196)	$ 1,560,519	$ 1,416,074	$ 59,672
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010		91,593,984
Net income	360,419				336,837	336,837	23,582
Other comprehensive income (loss)	33,212			33,414		33,414	(202)
Cash dividends declared	(44,904)				(44,904)	(44,904)
Stock-based compensation and other	19,581		19,581			19,581
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		87,350
Exercise of stock options	1,103	1	1,102			1,103
Shares repurchased, (in shares)		(3,000,000)
Shares repurchased	(178,132)	(30)	(39,870)		(138,232)	(178,132)
Tax benefit related to stock plans	5,923		5,923			5,923
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		113,713
Issuance of common stock, net		1	(1)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances, (in shares)		(38,676)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances, value	(2,325)		(2,325)			(2,325)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2011	1,670,623	888	3,245	(130,782)	1,714,220	1,587,571	83,052
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2011		88,756,371
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	1,678,827	888	15,194	(222,922)	1,798,117	1,591,277	87,550
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011		88,841,240
Net income	257,888				245,036	245,036	12,852
Other comprehensive income (loss)	30,662			30,507		30,507	155
Cash dividends declared	(61,195)				(53,567)	(53,567)	(7,628)
Stock-based compensation and other	10,294		10,294			10,294
Exercise of stock options (in shares)		897,069
Exercise of stock options	19,977	9	19,968			19,977
Shares repurchased, (in shares)	(680,000)	(680,000)
Shares repurchased	(40,470)	(7)	(40,463)			(40,470)
Tax benefit related to stock plans	14,424		14,424			14,424
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)		341,620
Issuance of common stock, net		4	(4)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances, (in shares)		(140,054)
Shares withheld for withholding taxes associated with common stock issuances, value	(9,124)	(1)	(9,123)			(9,124)
Ending Balance at Sep. 30, 2012	$ 1,901,283	$ 893	$ 10,290	$ (192,415)	$ 1,989,586	$ 1,808,354	$ 92,929
Ending Balance (in shares) at Sep. 30, 2012		89,259,875